Can opener with cutting element carrying hand lever and push button operated mechanism for removing same

ABSTRACT

An electrically powered can opener has a cutter wheel carrying hand lever pivotally attached to its forward upright frame by an elongate pin assembly. The frame and various parts of the can opener include a spring biased movable latch which engages a portion of the pin assembly to retain same in its operative environment. This latch is enclosed by an open front box-like casing which has an exteriorly accessible push button located on the casing and engaging a portion of the movable latch. The push button has a position which when moved thereto pivots the movable latch out of contact with said pin assembly thereby allowing the hand lever to be removed from the can opener frame.

United States Patent Aberer [54] CAN OPENER WITH CUTTING ELEMENTCARRYING HAND LEVER AND PUSH BUTTON OPERATED MECHANISM FOR REMOVING SAME[72] Inventor: Leo F. Aberer, Shawnee Mission,

- Kans.

[73] Assignee: Rival Manufacturing Company,

Kansas City, Mo.

[22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 12,742

[52] US. Cl. ..30/4 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B67b 7/38 [58] Field of Search..30/4, 8, 8.5, 9; 292/153, 304

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,496,635 2/1970 McLean..30/4 919,750 4/1909 Neumeister ..292/153 X Sept. 5, 1972 2,810,95210/1957 Sundell ..30/4 R Primary Examiner-Andrew R. J uhasz AssistantExaminerGary L. Smith Attorney-Scofield, Kokjer, Scofield & LoweABSTRACT An electrically powered can opener has a cutter wheel carryinghand lever pivotally attached to its forward upright frame by anelongate pin assembly. The frame and various parts of the can openerinclude a spring biased movable latch which engages a portion of the pinassembly to retain same in its operative environment. This latch isenclosed by an open front box-like casing which has an exteriorlyaccessible push button located on the casing and engaging a portion ofthe movable latch. The push button has a position which when movedthereto pivots the movable latch out of contact with said pin assemblythereby allowing the hand lever to be removed from the can opener frame.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Theadvantages of electrically powered can openers with removable handlevers which carry the cutter elements thereon were discussed in theRobert J. Scott patent application entitled Removable Hand LeverConstruction, now US. Pat. No. 3,520,056, which issued June 14, 1970,which is owned by the same assignee. It was noted therein that canopeners with permanently affixed cutting elements were difficult toclean and maintain sanitary and that means for permitting the removingof the hand lever carrying the cutting element thereon facilitated itseasy washing and sanitizing of same.

The invention disclosed herein utilizes a pivotally mounted springbiased latch member which contacts and engages an inwardly extending pinmember from the hand lever pin assembly so that the hand lever ismovably attached to the upright frame in its operative environment. Oneend of the pivotally mounted latch member has a means for contacting andengaging a push button which is accessible exteriorly of the can openerframe and casing. The push button is movable between two positions. Oneposition the at rest position) corresponds to a latch-pin memberengaging position with the spring bias operative to maintain theengagement between the two above-mentioned members. The second positionof the push button pivots the spring biased latch away from the axis ofthe pin member and out of contact therewith so that the hand lever maybe removed from its normal operative environment within the can openerupright frame.

One 'of the principal objects of the invention is to provide, in the canopener of the type wherein the cutting element is carried by and movedinto and out of the cutting position by the hand lever substantiallypivoted to the body or frame of a can opener, a readily removable canpiercing hand lever which is retained in the can opener frame by auniquely constructed spring biased latch which operatively interconnectswith a push button located at least partially on the exterior of the canopener box-like casing. It is a feature of the invention that the springbiased latch is pivoted relative to the can opener frame at a locationnear the central area of the latch and is movable under spring tensiontoward and away from the axis of the hand lever pin member. In thismanner, convenient latch area portions are available on either side ofthe pivot for engaging either the pin member or for providing a meansfor pivoting the latch member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a readily removable canpiercing hand lever assembly which is manipulated at least in part by aunique push button located at least partially exteriorly of the canopener casing. It is a feature of this object that the latch structureis designed to cooperate with a can opener boxlike casing with the pushbutton slidably mounted therein. Due to the size, shape and mountinglocation of the push button, the assembly of the can opener frame andthe casing during manufacturing processes is facilitated as in theinterrelationship between the external push button and the one endportion of the latch member.

A further object of my invention is to provide a uniquely constructed,rugged, durable and simple to operate combination push button andpivotal latch which permits the easy removal and reassembly of a canpiercing hand lever of an electrically powered can opener of thecharacter described above.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the featuresof novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of thefollowing description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunctiontherewith and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts inthe various views:

FIG. 1 is a front fragmentary elevational view of a power operated canopener with a removable can piercing lever assembly and with theoperating parts shown in the normal operating or at rest position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the can opener upright frame andlever assembly of FIG. 1 showing the spring biased latch and pin memberin the engaging or in the lever retaining position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of FIG. 2 showing the pushbutton and the spring biased latch member moved to a position that willpermit removal or reassembly of the hand lever assembly;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the hand lever assembly showing thepin assembly in solid lines and the cutter wheel in broken lines;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken substantially along the line 5-5of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the push button inbroken lines in the at rest or lever assembly retaining position; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the latch member engaging portion of thepush button structure taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral 10 generally designatesthe body or frame of a typical electrically operated can opener. Theprincipal portion of the frame shown in the various views is adapted tocooperate with an open front box-like casing 10a and operates to supportvarious operative parts of the can opener.

A serrated or toothed rotary can feed wheel 11 is operatively located onthe forward side of frame 10. The feed wheel drive shaft 12 extendsthrough frame 10 and is rotatably supported in an appropriatelybearinged aperture in a thickened portion of frame 10. An electric motormeans not shown) rotates the shaft 12 and drives feed wheel 1 l in aconventional manner.

The subject invention is conveniently utilized with a pivotal canpiercing hand lever 13 located forwardly of frame 10 so as to provide amovable support for cutter wheel 14. The cutter wheel is mounted forfree rotation on the usual stud or arbor anchored in lever 13 and heldon the arbor by screw 15. Hand lever 13 has an elongate pin assemblyextending through a suitable fitted aperture in the lower left-handportion of the lever (see FIG. 1) and is fixedly secured thereto. Asclearly seen in FIG. 4, the forward or outwardly extending portion ofthe pin assembly includes a cylindrical rod-like projection 16 whichfunctions as a can guide. The intermediate portion of the pin assemblyincludes a continuation of the can guide 16 with jam nut 17 and thecircular flange 170 on either side thereof further fixedly locating andpositioning the hand lever at an optimum location relative to otherportions of the pin assembly. 5

The rearward extending portion of the pin assembly includes a generallyrod or shaft-like rearwardly extending pin member 16b having an annulargroove 16c in the rearward end portion thereof. Pin member 16b isrotatably positioned within an aperture in a thickened portion of thefront frame, generally designated by boss b, as suggested above.

Turning now more particularly to the detailed description of the leverassembly and the locking or retaining means associated therewith, latch18 is pivotally affixed at an area on or near the central portionthereof to the inner portion of boss 10b by means of shoulder screw 19which threadably engages boss 10b in a conventional manner. Latch I8 isconveniently shaped as shown in the various figures to approximate a Ywith the notched or shaft engaging portion of the Y being located in theupper leg, the pivot point being located near the vertex of the Y andthe base of the Y providing the push button engaging portion. The latchmember includes the notch 18a located in the upper leg and a suitableaperture 18b located in the lower leg. Tension spring is interconnectedbetween the anchor screw 20a and the aperture 18b of latch 18 so thatthe latch member is biased to rotate about its pivotal connection 19 ina counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The push buttonengaging portion of latch 18 is bifurcated at 18c, there being an upperleg and a lower leg of the bifurcated end portion which cooperates withthe push button structure as will be discussed later. Accordingly, whenin the normal or at rest position, latch 18 contacts the pin member 161)and is engaged within the annular groove 16c so that the hand lever isretained for operative movement within frame 10.

As suggested above, the box-like casing 10a that cooperates with thefront frame 10 supports a push button hereinafter identified by thenumeral 21) for movement between a first position which will result in45 latch 18 engaging the pin member 16b and to a second position whichwill permit the pin member (and accordingly the hand lever) to beremoved from its operative position within frame 10. As clearly seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, push button 21 is comprised of a wedge-shaped outerportion 21a with an inwardly extending hollow base portion 21b. The base21b and the thumb outer portion 210 are integrally formed andappropriately sized so that base 211; slideably fits within an ovalstructure 10a in casing 100 and which is substantially adjacent to thepivot point of latch 18 (shoulder screw 19). The inner face of base 21bis also oval or elliptical in shape with a pin 21c extending through theopposed sides of base 21b. The bifurcated legs of push button engagingportion 18c of latch 18 are disposed on either side of pin 21c for anoperative interconnection between the two members. As suggested above,the dimensions of the wedge-shaped outer portion 21a of push button 21adjacent its base 21b are sufiicient to 6 cover opening 10a in casing10a regardless of whether the push button is in the rest or the leverrelease position.

In operation, hand lever 13 is pivotally attached to frame 10 when pinassembly (more particularly pin member 16b) extends through itsassociated aperture in frame 10 and boss 10b so that the spring biasedlatch member 18 may be engaged within the annular groove 16c. When inthis position, hand lever 13 may be operatively moved between the canreceiving and the can piercing position which are the conventionaldesired positions of an electrically operated can opener of this nature.When it is desired to remove hand lever 13 (and cutter wheel 14) fromframe 10, it is only necessary to press downwardly on the upper surfaceof push button 21 in the direction of the arrow, see FIG. 3).

When push button 21 is depressed so that the lower portion of its base21b nearly contacts the lower surface of the opening 10a, the pin 21cmoves downwardly against the upper surface of the lower bifurcated legof latch portion 180 thereby pivoting latch 18 in a clockwise directionas seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. This pivotal movement of latch 18 is againstthe tension of spring 20, however the movement is sufficient to free thenotched portion 180 of latch 18 from the annular groove 16c to be movedto the solid line position shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the hand leverand its associated pin assembly are removable from frame 10a. Likewise,such a button position will permit the repositioning of the hand leverand its associated pin assembly within frame 10. With the manualpressure released from push button 21 the spring 20 pivots latch 18 tothe position shown in FIG. 2 and will accordingly be engaged in annulargroove 160 of pin member 16b when the pin assembly has been returned toits operative position within frame 10.

As shown, when latch 18 is fully engaged in groove 160, some clearanceexists between the upper end of portion 21b of push button 21 andaperture to assure that the latch will never be impeded from so engagingsaid groove 16c. Also, when portion 21b seats downwardly in aperture100', pin 1619 will always be free of latch 18.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a can opener having an upright frame, a casing which encloses aportion thereof, a rotary feed wheel, and means for rotating said feedwheel, the combination therewith of a hand lever carrying a cuttingelement thereon,

means for removably supporting said hand lever on said frame, said meansincluding a bearing opening in said frame,

a latch,

means for pivotally connecting said latch to said frame,

a pin member supported from said lever and having a groove definedtherein, said latch having a contoured opening defined therein, saidlatch opening having at least a first and a second portion in spacedapart relationship, said first portion of said latch opening beingselectively sized to permit a portion of said latch to be engaged withinsaid pin member groove to retain said hand lever in its rotativeoperative environment on said frame with said pin member extendingthrough said bearing opening, said second portion of said latch openingbeing sized to permit axial separation of said pin member and saidbearing opening so that said hand lever may be removed from said frame,said latch opening being located on said frame in said pin memberretaining operative environment with the axis of said second latchopening portion spaced from a vertical line through the axis of saidlatch opening first portion,

a spring, said spring connected to said latch member and said frame andoperable to bias said latch about said pivotally connecting meanstowards said groove engaging relationship with said pin member, saidlatch being oriented on said frame to pivotally move in a direction thatis transverse to the axis of said pin member thereby moving said latchopening in an arcuate path,

a push button operating surface extending exteriorally of said casing,said push button surface interconnected with said latch member andmovable between a first position which correspondingly moves said latchto permit same to engage said pin member groove and a second positionwhich effects pivoting of said latch member in said arcuate path out ofcontact with said groove and in a direction transverse to the axis ofsaid pin member thereby aligning said axis of said second portion ofsaid latch opening with the axis of said pin member to permit axialseparation of said pin member and said bearing opening so that said handlever may be removed from said frame, and means for limiting the pivotalmovement of said latch in a preselected direction when said push buttonsurface is moved to said second position to locate said second portionof said latch opening for the said purpose of removing or reassemblingsaid hand lever with respect to said frame, said casing having at leasttwo side portions extending generally rearwardly from said frame, saidlimiting means including one of said side portions having an openingdefined therein, said opening having an upper and a lower limit, one ofsaid push button and said latch extending through said opening andcontacting one of said upper and lower side opening limits to facilitatethe locating of said second portion of said latch opening in saidaligned position with respect to the axis of said pin member and saidbearing opening for removing or reassembling said hand lever withrespect to said frame. 2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein saidlatch member has a bifurcated leg that interconnects with said pushbutton, said push button having a means attached thereto that extendswithin said bifurcated portion of said lever and imparts pivotalmovement to said latch when said push button is moved to said secondposition.

3. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said push button includes abase portion and an exterior portion, said base portion extendinginteriorly of said casing, said base portion being interconnected withsaid latch and cooperating with said limiting means to limit the pivotalmovement of said latch and said latch opening.

1. In a can opener having an upright frame, a casing which encloses aportion thereof, a rotary feed wheel, and means for rotating said feedwheel, the combination therewith of a hand lever carrying a cuttingelement thereon, means for removably supporting said hand lever on saidframe, said means including a bearing opening in said frame, a latch,means for pivotally connecting said latch to said frame, a pin membersupported from said lever and having a groove defined therein, saidlatch having a contoured opening defined therein, said latch openinghaving at least a first and a second portion in spaced apartrelationship, said first portion of said latch opening being selectivelysized to permit a portion of said latch to be engaged within said pinmember groove to retain said hand lever in its rotative operativeenvironment on said frame with said pin member extending through saidbearing opening, said second portion of said latch opening being sizedto permit axial separation of said pin member and said bearing openingso that said hand lever may be removed from said frame, said latchopening being located on said frame in said pin member retainingoperative environment with the axis of said second latch opening portionspaced from a vertical line through the axis of said latch opening firstportion, a spring, said spring connected to said latch member and saidframe and operable to bias said latch about said pivotally connectingmeans towards said groove engaging relationship with said pin member,said latch being oriented on said frame to pivotally move in a directionthat is transverse to the axis of said pin member thereby moving saidlatch opening in an arcuate path, a push button operating surfaceextending exteriorally of said casing, said push button surfaceinterconnected with said latch member and movable between a firstposition which correspondingly moves said latch to permit same to engagesaid pin member groove and a second position which effects pivoting ofsaid latch member in said arcuate path out of contact with said grooveand in a direction transverse to the axis of said pin member therebyaligning said axis of said second portion of said latch opening with theaxis of said pin member to permit axial separation of said pin memberand said bearing opening so that said hand lever may be removed fromsaid frame, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said latch ina preselected direction when said push button surface is moved to saidsecond position to locate said second portion of said latch opening forthe said purpose of removing or reassembling said hand lever withrespect to said frame, said casing having at least two side portionsextending generally rearwardly from said frame, said limiting meansincluding one of said side portions having an opening defined therein,said opening having an upper and a lower limit, one of said push buttonand said latch extending through said opening and contacting one of saidupper and lower side opening limits to facilitate the locating of saidsecond portion of said latch opening in said aligned position withrespect to the axis of said pin member and said bearing opening forremoving or reassembling said hand lever with respect to said frame. 2.The combination as in claim 1 wherein said latch member has a bifurcatedleg that interconnects with said push button, said push button having ameans attached thereto that extends within said bifurcated portion ofsaid lever and imparts pivotal movement to said latch when said pushbutton is moved to said second position.
 3. The combination as in claim1 wherein said push button includes a base portion and an exteriorportion, said base portion extending interiorly of said casing, saidbase portion being interconnected with said latch and cooperating withsaid limiting means to limit the pivotal movement of said latch and saidlatch opening.